Camper Ablaze in Springs

Update, May 29: On Wednesday morning, a small motor home parked in a residential driveway in Springs was destroyed after a fire started in its engine.

The Springs Fire Department was called to 60 Hildreth Place at about 8:15 a.m. Chief Ben Miller said the owner, whose name was not released, was planning to leave for a Mets game and had started the vehicle’s engine. He then moved another vehicle in the driveway, and when he returned to the motor home, found its belts on fire. The chief said he tried to move the motor home, but by then the engine was dead. He grabbed a fire extinguisher to try to put out the flames, but they spread quickly, Chief Miller said.

“When I got there the engine compartment was fully involved,” the chief said. The department was concerned about the possible explosion of propane tanks in the vehicle — a 20-pound cylinder behind the passenger seat and on-board propane. They were able to remove the cylinder, and the on-board tank relieved itself through a safety device without a problem.

“We were aware and conscious of the gas that was in there. We took all the precautions necessary that we were away from the hazards as much as possible,” David King, the first assistant chief, who was first on the scene, said. “The tires did not pop.” 

The back of the 25-foot motor home was about 15 to 30 feet away from the house, the chief said, adding that the department did a good job of knocking down the flames quickly and containing the fire to the vehicle. “If it had been turned around in the other direction. it would have been a little more tenuous,” Chief King said.

The fire was extinguished in about five minutes, but not before the fire had burned the roof of the motor home and destroyed its interior. The Fire Department remained on the scene for about an hour. making sure there were no small pockets of fire left.  No injuries were reported. The East Hampton Town fire marshal’s office is investigating the exact cause.

Original story: A camper was fully engulfed in flames in a driveway in Springs on Wednesday morning.

The Springs Fire Department was called to 60 Hildreth Place for a vehicle fire at 8:16 a.m. The first responding chief reported a camper was ablaze.

The East Hampton Town Fire Marshal's office was asked to respond as well.

It was not immediately clear what caused the camper to catch fire.

Check back for more information as it becomes available.